‘Robber’ killed in B’baria ‘gunfight’

An alleged robber was killed in a 'gunfight' with police in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria early today.

Deceased Manik Mia, 36, hailing from Chunta union, was the ringleader of an inter-district robber gang according to police, reports Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

He was arrested around 11:00pm on Wednesday while he was preparing for committing robbery.

A gang of 15 to 20 robbers was planning to carry out a robbery at an expatriate's house in Lambahati village of Pakshimul union around 11:00pm on Wednesday night, told Rupak Kumar Saha, officer-in-charge of Sarail Police Station, to Prothom Alo.

Hearing the screams of villagers, police rushed to the spot. The robbers opened fire at police while trying to flee, the official said.

Police arrested Manik and seven others from the spot along with firearms.

Later, a police team along with Manik was going to recover arms from different villages of Pakshimul union at night while a gang of robbers swooped on police and opened fire in a bid to seize him in the Brammongaon area around 1:00am, added the police official.

Police retaliated with gunfire triggering a 'gunfight'. At one stage Manik was critically wounded as a bullet shot by the miscreants hit him.

He was rushed to Sadar Hospital where the duty doctor declared him dead.

SI Abdul Alim, ASI Amzad Hossain and Shah Alam, police constable Rabiul Alam and Faruk Mia were also hurt during the 'gunfight', the OC added.

Two pipe guns, two rounds of bullets, two sharp weapons were recovered from the spot.

Manik was accused in 10 cases filed with Sarail Police Station including murder and robbery